Global Burden of Cardiovascular Diseases

In recent years, the dominance of chronic diseases as major contributors to total global mortality has emerged and has been previously described in detail elsewhere. By 2005, the total number of cardiovascular disease (CVD) deaths (mainly coronary heart disease, stroke, and rheumatic heart disease) had increased globally to 17.5 million from 14.4 million in 1990. Of these, 7.6 million were attributed to coronary heart disease and 5.7 million to stroke. More than 80 percent of the deaths occurred in low and middle income countries (WHO, 2009e).

Based on 2007 to 2010 data, 33% of US adults ≥ 20 years of age have hypertension. This represents ~ 78 million US adults with hypertension. The prevalence of hypertension is similar for men and women. African American adults have among the highest prevalence of hypertension (44%) in the world.

Therapy for slightly raised blood pressure delays hypertension

Mar 15, 2006 Viewed: 626

A new study shows by giving a blood pressure drug to people with measurements above normal but not yet considered too high, the development of hypertension might be delayed.

The preliminary research found that when patients with slightly raised blood pressure took the hypertension drug Atacand over a two year period, they had a 15.6 percent lower risk of developing hypertension.

In the study 772 patients took either the blood pressure drug Atacand for two years or a placebo pill.

Then for the following two years, all the patients received a placebo so that researchers could evaluate blood pressure changes.

The people in the study, aged 30 to 65, had what researchers called “pre-hypertension,” meaning blood pressure readings which were above normal but did not meet the definition of hypertension, or high blood pressure.

A blood pressure reading of about 120/80 is considered optimal; in the study high blood pressure was defined as 140/90.

Hypertension is known to increase the risk of having a heart attack or stroke and was listed as a primary or contributing cause in about 277,000 American deaths in 2003, according to the American Heart Association.

At the end of the study period, 240 patients in the placebo group and 208 in the Atacand group had high blood pressure.

There were no major differences in reports of side effects between the two groups.

As many as 59 million Americans have pre-hypertension, and the study’s authors say the findings are promising but more research is needed.

Dr. Stevo Julius, a University of Michigan researcher says the study shows that the postponement of hypertension onset through medical treatment is feasible, and without side effects.

Julius says however that the effect is moderate, and further studies in younger people and over longer periods of time are needed in order to demonstrate clinical usefulness.

The researchers conclude that over a period of four years, treatment of pre-hypertension with Atacand appeared to be well tolerated and reduced the risk of incident hypertension during the study period.

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